Items tagged with Verizon Wireless

Verizon has confirmed that it will be rolling out Universal Profile RCS for the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL tomorrow, December 6, 2018. Before this confirmation, the Universal Profile RCS service wasn't expected until early next year. This Universal Profile is meant to ensure carrier interoperability and brings several cool new features. Verizon is referring to Universal Profile RCS as chat and enhanced messaging. Google's Messages app will be where users of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will need to go to access the new functions. Verizon employees posted a full list of features for the service...Read more...

When early birds starting picking up their Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones from Verizon this week, they were met with befuddlement when it was discovered that the devices were carrier locked. While this might not seem all that surprising given that the Pixel 3 is a Verizon carrier-exclusive device, Verizon has traditionally sold its smartphones unlocked straight out of the box (including previous-generation Pixel phones). However, this policy changed with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL (read the HotHardware review here). Instead, Verizon says that its smartphones have to be first...Read more...

Right on schedule, Verizon today turned on the first fully-functional 5G wireless network in the world. Now before you run down to your local Verizon Wireless store to grab a 5G smartphone, we'll have to temper your expectations. There still aren’t any 5G-capable smartphone available, and this initial service is called Verizon 5G Home, which is only for residential internet services. And we should also mention that it is only available in four U.S. cities at the moment: Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento. If you live in one of these cities, you'll be able to...Read more...

The whole industry seems to be pivoting to 5G wireless technology, but that doesn't mean everyone is giving up on 4G LTE. In fact, the United States' largest wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless, is breathing some new life into the standard. With the help of Nokia and Qualcomm, Verizon has demonstrated 4G LTE speeds topping out at 1.45Gbps in a live commercial environment. To achieve these breakneck speeds, Verizon is making full use of the LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) standard including six-channel carrier aggregation, 256 QAM and 4x4 MIMO technologies. This in combination with Verizon's own PCS and...Read more...

Back in late June, we were alerted to a new product announcement on tap for August 2nd from Motorola. Luckily for us, we're here live in Chicago at Motorola HQ today to see what the company has in store for consumers, and it's quite interesting. The company launched the all-new Moto Z3, which serves as the follow-up to last year's Moto Z2. It has a 6-inch Full HD+ OLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio that takes up most of the front of the device. There are still notable bezels on the bottom and top, but it at least doesn't mar your viewing experience with a notch (if you’re not into...Read more...

After bashing unlimited data plans nearly two years ago, Verizon Wireless is launching a third entry into its current family of unlimited data plans. The new plan is called Above Unlimited, and it is the most feature-packed unlimited plan that Verizon offers. But first, let us cover the existing plans. Go Unlimited provides 4G LTE data that can be throttled at anytime if there is congestion on Verizon’s wireless network. You get 480p quality video streaming and unlimited mobile hotspot capped at 600 kbps. Beyond Unlimited will start throttling your 4G LTE data after 22GB, enables 720p...Read more...

The United States Department of Justice is about to go on a trust-busting escapade. The Justice Department is investigating whether AT&T, Verizon, and the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) collectively prevented consumers from switching carriers on devices with eSIM. The three organizations reportedly received requests for information from the Justice Department. The investigation centers around whether AT&T and Verizon worked with GSMA to lock devices to their networks. An unnamed device maker and wireless carrier reported the potential collusion to the Justice Department...Read more...

Mobile networks are not all created equal, despite the fact that if you look at coverage maps they often boast nearly identical coverage in many areas. Each year OpenSignal issues a report that looks at all the mobile carriers in the U.S. and compares the speed and performance offered to help consumers look through all the hype and marketing and see which carrier really is the fastest. According to the latest report, both Verizon and AT&T have stopped the declining performance on their networks that were attributed to the return of unlimited data plans. Both networks have returned to their...Read more...

Verizon has announced that it will begin its rollout of 5G services to customers in certain U.S. markets next year. However, this isn't lightning fast 5G wireless for your smartphone to connect to while you are out and about. Verizon plans to use this 5G wireless service to provide faster internet access to homes and business using technology it purchased earlier this year. Verizon wants to light up wireless residential broadband service in three to five markets during 2018. The first, and only confirmed market for its 5G launch will be Sacramento, California during the second half of 2018....Read more...

Many Verizon Wireless customers weren't very happy with the carrier back in August when word first surfaced that it would be throttling video streaming on its Unlimited data plans. That throttling meant no matter what sort of device you were using, you only had streaming capability at up to 720p with most plans offering DVD quality only. Verizon is now rethinking its stance on video throttling, but it will naturally cost you more. To get your unthrottled streaming back, it will cost you another $10 per month. That extra monthly cost will sting some users, after all, the original reason given...Read more...

Earlier this week, we reported that Verizon Wireless had taken the rather unfortunate step of informing 8,500 of its rural subscribers that they would no longer be eligible to receive wireless service. According to Verizon, these customers were using an excessive amount of data. These customers reside in underserved areas of the country that are part of Verizon's LTE in Rural America (LRA) program, which allows rural carriers to tap into resources and access technical support provided by the nation's largest wireless carrier. However, Verizon's costs associated with helping to provide service to...Read more...

Verizon Wireless has announced to 8,500 customers in rural parts of the country that it will no longer service them and all of their phones on their accounts as of October 17. The reason that Verizon Wireless is ditching these 8,500 rural customers, that have a total of 19,000 lines, is excessive data usage on networks owned by Verizon Wireless's roaming partners. In rural parts of the country where Verizon lacks its own wireless network, the carrier has partnered with smaller regional wireless carriers and allows its customers to roam on those networks free of charge. With the return of "unlimited"...Read more...

Most of us don't put much stock into the claims of mobile carriers that unlimited data users slow down the network for everyone. We tend to think that the carriers are just using excuses to throttle our connections and charge us more money. But according to recent tests from OpenSignal, speeds at AT&T and Verizon are indeed slowing down thanks to unlimited data users. OpenSignal writes, "Six months after reintroducing unlimited plans, Verizon and AT&T experienced a marked decline in 4G speeds in our tests. The impact appears to have hit Verizon the most. Its average LTE download test fell...Read more...

Motorola announced the new Moto Z2 Play four weeks ago, and the new mid-range Android smartphone is now available to purchase. However, we hope that you like Verizon Wireless’ service, because that’s the only place where you’ll be able to find the smartphone… for now. Verizon customers can grab the phone for $0 down and pay $17 per month for 24 months, or they can just pay $408 upfront. This is a bit less than the $449 price that was tossed around when the smartphone was first announced. To sweeten the deal even further, Verizon will include the JBL SoundBoost 2 Moto Mod (MSRP $79.99) for free...Read more...